Chapter 72: The Human, The Beast

Chapter 72: The Human, The Beast

The individual who entered my view when I turned my head was none other than Cassadin.

Cassadin.

The silver medal adorning his chest sparkled in the sunlight.

Cassadins eyes were icy, silently glaring at Damian. The moment our eyes met, Cassadin forcefully pulled me away from Damian.

I looked up at Cassadin, my eyes wide with surprise. Damian, wearing a faint smile, dusted off my back and shoulders that had come in contact with him.

Are you injured?

Cassadin was here, and I found some relief in that fact.

Im fine. Has the ceremony ended, Cassadin?

Yes.

Should I refer to him more formally now that his status is officially higher than mine?

While I was contemplating how to address Cassadin, Damian sarcastically interjected from nearby.

From slave to a Marquess. Its absurd to the point of being laughable.

Cassadin didnt even feign interest in what Damian had been saying. Instead of replying, he removed his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

However, Cassadins uniform jacket was much too large for me. As a result, it looked more like the jacket was wearing me than the other way around.

Regardless of Damians presence, Cassadin gazed at me in his oversized uniform jacket, his eyes softening.

It suits you.

Observing his behavior, Damian smirked and smugly retorted.

Perhaps its because you were born a slave, but this is unimaginably crude.

Your Grace.

When I addressed him, Damian merely slicked back his hair, as if he didnt understand what the problem was. His sickly pale skin had regained its healthy color.

Did he manage to regain his composure in such a short time? There must still be some residual pain from his heart disease.

I was almost scared at Damians obsessive efforts to conceal his bodys ridiculous state. Damians eyes narrowed for a moment before the corner of his lips curled upward.

Aren, can I ask you something?

What was he going to inquire about this time? My silence seemed to give him the affirmation he needed, and Damian slowly opened his mouth to speak.

I want to know why you keep protecting someone who is no longer part of your family.

A gladiator slave who daringly forgot the kindness bestowed upon him and tricked his whole family into taking part in the fighting competition. His departure from your family was also completely his own choice.

Damian was nonchalantly referring to Cassadin, who was now a Marquess, as a mere slave. If I responded vehemently, I would be playing right into Damians hand.

He would surely question why I became so incensed on behalf of someone who isnt even a part of our family.

Because I was aware of that, I just remained silent. Seeing my lack of reaction, Damian tilted his head and continued.

Normally, people would be screaming curses at me by now.

But Aren, why arent you reacting in anger? ^[ED/N: There werent any quotation marks in the raw.]

When his question ended, his emerald eyes glittered with anticipation. His gaze seemed to follow me, as if he didnt want to miss a single reaction I might have to his remarks.

Damian was already aware that Cassadin was the true perpetrator behind the attempt to poison the Crown Prince.

The reason he sought me out immediately upon waking must have been to subtly convey that he knew Cassadin was guilty.

This was a trial. He was gauging whether I would continue to shield Cassadin, despite his awareness of the perpetrator of the Crown Princes poisoning, or whether I would forsake Cassadin, opting instead for my relationship with him.

I will assist you, Milady, in escaping the clutches of this man.

Observing my lack of response, Damian reiterated his proposal. His bright emerald-green irises, nestled within sharply angled eyes, reminded me of a venomous serpent.

Cassadin seemed as if he was about to speak up on my behalf to Damian, but I quickly shook my head and tugged on Cassadins sleeve.

If Cassadin intervened, the situation was bound to become worse. I couldnt carelessly speak and risk antagonizing Damian.

At the moment, survival was more important than revenge.

Besides, Damian has a vast number of followers.

The hostage Cassadin had allegedly captured was likely Kindel. If I truly knew Cassadin, he would have kept Kindel alive.

As I kept searching for a solution and finally made up my mind, I locked my gaze with Damians and then spoke.

So, does Your Grace imply that you will assist me in escaping Cassadins clutches? Is that right?

Indeed. It is obvious to me that this man lacks sanity.

What does Your Grace consider to be the standard of sanity?

Upon hearing my question, Damians eyes narrowed even more. He looked at me for a moment, then glanced at Cassadin before responding.

Ordinarily, individuals judge those who exceed the average human spectrum as insane.

If I understand Your Graces explanation correctly, does that mean Cassadin has transcended the average human capacity? On what basis does Your Grace believe so?

Damians tightly sealed lips parted. He fixed a keen gaze on Cassadins jacket that rested on my shoulders.

His swordsmanship is exceptional, for one. But most of all, the reason why this man cannot be deemed sane is

Pausing briefly, Damian deliberately measured his words.

His perverse possessiveness. He has a strange obsession that leads him to see the sister who adopted him as a woman, not a sibling.

When did Damian notice something that even my father didnt recognize? Did Cassadin say something about me during the last round of the fighting competition before Damian collapsed?

Noticing that I was looking at him with a bewildered expression, Damian narrowed his eyes into a smile and continued.

It is a desire that no human who understands gratitude can possess.

Damians gaze fell on Cassadin. In his darkened green eyes, there was a profound hatred for Cassadin.

The man you brought from the gladiator arena was not a human but a beast.

Cassadin did not refute Damians assertions. The afternoon shadows seemed to accentuate the sadness on his face.

It was then that I realized that Cassadin also considered himself not a human but a beast.

Cassadin.

Just as I was staring at Cassadin with sympathetic eyes, a large hand suddenly appeared in my view. Tracing the hand upwards, I found Damians face, donning a meaningful smile.

His angled eyes folded into curves. When our gazes met, he asked in a low, steady voice.

Will you take my hand? Or

Will you take the beasts hand?